‘Zero tolerance’: Law passes protecting transit employees from assault, battery
BOSTON — It was near midnight in 2017 when York Makonnen, an MBTA employee, was stabbed twice in the neck by a passenger on her bus.
Other passengers sprang into action, saving her life. The injuries cost Makonnen her job, however.
Gov. Maura Healey on Dec. 3 added transit workers to the list of employees covered under a state law that imposes stricter penalties for assault and battery on public employees. The law includes employees of private transportation companies, like Peter Pan in Springfield and Keolis in Boston.
Don Haywood, of Springfield, disembarks from a Pioneer Valley Transit Authority bus. He said that recently he feels safer catching public transport because of the city police and sheriff's deputies stationed at Union Station. (Douglas Hook / The Republican)Douglas Hook
The law cracks down on offenders, protecting drivers, operators, contractors and other employees who have been physically or verbally abused, including the use of any bodily substance like saliva or urine.
With the new law, offenders could face a sentence ranging from 90 days to two-and-a-half years in a house of correction, a fine between $500 to $5,000, or both.
"These assaults stop now. People will be held accountable, and will be charged and arrested for their assaults on transit workers," said Bill Berardino, vice president and assistant business agent of Boston Carmen's Union Local 589, which represents more than 7,000 active and retired MBTA employees.
Berardino, a bus driver for the MBTA for two decades, said this is a story all too common: A bus or train arrives late, passengers get angry, and transit employees are berated, spat on, threatened or, in Makonnen's case, stabbed.
Edna Colon, of Chicopee, on Monday said she relies on the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority regularly. She feels that the Safe Travels Initiative Task Force is doing a great job during the day but avoids travel after dark. (Douglas Hook / The Republican)Douglas Hook
There were 654 instances of assault against MBTA employees last year, including verbal and physical assaults, he said.
That number has been climbing over the last few years.
"This law ensures that people don't feel entitled to put their hands on our employees," said Berardino. "All transportation workers deserve respect."
In the Pioneer Valley, there were 132 assaults on operators in fiscal 2024, of which 113 were verbal assaults, and 19 were physical, according to data from the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority, which serves two dozen communities in Western Massachusetts.
The red light of a heater illuminates the bus stop outside Springfield's Union Station on Tuesday evening. (Douglas Hook / The Republican)Douglas Hook
Brandy Pelletier, manager of marketing, advertising and public relations for the PVTA, said in a statement that the safety of operators is the agency's highest priority.
"Our drivers keep our communities moving safely every day. This law sends a clear message that violence and harassment against those who serve the public will not be tolerated," she said.
Springfield Police Officer Carlos Rodriguez-Lugo patrols Union Station in Springfield on Dec. 5. (Douglas Hook / The Republican)Douglas Hook
Earlier this year, the city of Springfield, its Police Department and the Hampden County Sheriff's Department announced a task force that is working to make Union Station, a travel hub for railway and bus services in downtown Springfield, a safe and welcoming place for business owners in the station, employees and thousands of visitors.
Meanwhile, in the state's second largest city, the number of assaults are going down. Over the past year, the Worcester Regional Transit Authority has recorded 15 assaults on transit personnel, a decrease compared to previous years, said Jamie Winters, director of marketing and communications for the authority.
Union Station Security Supervisor Gary Curtis keeps an eye on the cameras in the office at Union Station on Monday morning. (Douglas Hook / The Republican)Douglas Hook
"We attribute this improvement to strengthened security measures, including expanded coverage by our security contractor and the addition of police details from Worcester Police Department during peak service hours," the statement said.
Healey last week at the bill signing said respect is not optional.
"With this bill, we say unequivocally and clearly, 'No more,'" she said. "Massachusetts will stand firmly behind the people who keep Massachusetts moving."
The State House News Service contributed to this article.
Union Station Security Officer Daniel Pimentel patrols the building and bus station multiple times a day. (Douglas Hook / The Republican)Douglas Hook
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